Lincoln County Arrest Records

An arrest occurs when a law enforcement officer apprehends and detains an individual in connection with a crime. Typically, arrests are made with a warrant in Lincoln County. Under Wyoming Statutes Section 7-2-102, a law enforcement officer must gather evidence to establish probable cause to get an arrest warrant. Then they complete an affidavit describing the individual, their offense, and the facts supporting the probable cause. They present this information before a judge who reviews the evidence.

Wyoming Rule of Criminal Procedure 4 mandates that judges issue a warrant only if an officer's affidavit establishes probable cause. If the judge is satisfied that the minimum probable cause standard has been met, they issue an arrest warrant. However, warrantless arrests are also lawful under certain conditions, such as when an officer witnesses a crime in progress.

Arrested persons are usually held at the county jail in Kemmerer. The County Sheriff's office typically generates arrest records, which are often included in the Lincoln County Court records, especially when cases go to trial.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lincoln County?

Yes. The Wyoming Public Records Act grants the public access to any information created or received by government agencies in connection with public business unless otherwise stated by law. Despite the general access, there are exceptions for privileged or confidential records. Records exempt from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets
• Investigatory records
• Investigation files that may constitute a breach of an individual's privacy
• Medical and insurance records
• Records that may threaten public safety and security

Lincoln County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2019 FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR), the crime rate in Lincoln County was 690 per 100,000 in 2019. There were 135 incidents of violent and property crime offenses in 2019. The Lincoln County detention center houses up to 85 inmates. Statewide statistics and trends show that drug possession, DUI, and simple assaults are the leading causes of arrests.

Find Lincoln County Arrest Records

Record seekers wishing to look up information about an offender detained in Lincoln County may contact the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in person at either the Kemmerer or Afton divisions. They may also contact the Lincoln County detention center at (307) 877-2169.

Lincoln County Sheriff
1040 Justice Center Drive, Suite A
Kemmerer, WY 83101
Phone: (307) 877-3791

The Wyoming Department of Corrections offers a public Offender Locator. Record seekers may search for an inmate using their WDOC number or name. At minimum, they need either the WDOC inmate number or the first two letters of the person's last name to find information. Anyone seeking information about inmates in federal custody may use the Federal Inmate Locator run by the Bureau of Prisons. They may conduct a name search or search by BOP register number.

Lincoln County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records contain information about an individual's involvement with law enforcement and the judicial system. They are distinct documents with different legal implications.

An arrest record is a document detailing the events leading up to an arrest. Such records list the date and place of the arrest, booking details, personal information, the name of the arresting officer and agency, and the charges.

In contrast, a criminal record highlights the aftermath and results of an arrest in legal terms. Criminal records include arrest details and information about the trial, the convictions, and incarcerations.

Arrest records do not necessarily imply that the arrestee is guilty until their day in court. A criminal record means a court has found the arrestee guilty.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Lincoln County, arrest information stays on a person's record permanently. However, Wyoming's Local Government Records Retention Schedule sets time limits: arrest records and warrants are retained for five years, executed arrest warrants for two years, and jail inmates' files for up to ten years.

Lincoln County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court order authorizing law enforcement agents to arrest and detain an individual. Before they are issued a warrant, law enforcement officers must present the judge with evidence that an individual has committed a crime or disobeyed a court injunction.

If law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe an individual committed a felony or a misdemeanor, they may be arrested without a warrant. Warrantless arrests are also lawful in exigent circumstances, such as hot pursuit or if the individual is a safety threat.

A Lincoln County arrest warrant typically contains:

• The name and physical description of the suspect
• The alleged offense or statute violated
• The signature or the issuing judge
• The date
• A command to arrest the suspect
• The name of the issuing court

Do Lincoln County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. An arrest warrant issued in Lincoln County stays in force indefinitely. There is no statute of expiration or automatic time limit on arrest warrants in the county or state. Once a judge issues a warrant, it remains active until the individual is arrested or appears in court or there is a judicial recall.

Expunge Lincoln County Arrest Records

Eligibility for arrest record sealing or expungement in Lincoln County depends on the nature and outcome of the arrests. Under the Wyoming statutes 7-13-1401,1-13-1501, and 7-13-1502, information may be eligible for expungement if:

• The arrestee was not convicted
• The offense was not a sexual offense or domestic violence, and no weapon was involved
• It was a first-time misdemeanor
• It is related to a minor underage alcohol offense
• It is related to a juvenile offense or a non-violent felony.

For individuals seeking to expunge Lincoln County arrest records, the following conditions apply:

• If an arrest did not lead to a conviction, the individual may apply for expungement 180 days after the sentence.
• For drug offenses or non-violent felony convictions, the record owner may apply ten years after completing their sentence, probation, and any court-ordered programs.
• They must have no new charges or convictions during the waiting period.

In addition to the requirements mentioned above, individuals may only expunge a record once in their lifetime.